Road design, safety and Vision Zero

[danbrotherston]

I got a photo ticket for 105 in a 100 zone in NZ. That was surprising.

I also reflexively distrust comments like "it was better back in the day". Is there any evidence for that?

Just my recollection of driving. It seems to be only the past 10 years or less than cars routinely do 20 over, and ignore stop signs if the way looks clear, same with turning right on red, many don't even bother to slow down. You just didn't see that behaviour before.

As for an additional evidence - as brought up in that Twitter by London police, police don't seem to have the resources to ticket minor infractions anymore.

I think part of the problem is that cities added additional stops signs on certain streets as methods of traffic calming (William Street between Westmount and Caroline in Waterloo is a great example). When people become familiar with a neighbourhood and they understand the traffic, they might feel that it is safe to ignore traffic signs.

A common practice I see now at Greenbrook and Stirling -- those turning left on Stirling from Greenbrook, you'll quite often will see a second/third car follow the lead car, and completely ignore the sign, as well as any traffic that is stop on Stirling trying to make their way wherever. It's bad because I have seen a couple pedestrians being hit at that spot, and myself I have been hit.

Maybe poor design leads to poor driving, I don't know. But whatever the case, many drivers and cyclists treat signs like they're not there.

And you believe they did before? Do you have evidence that they did?

There is some objective evidence driving has gotten worse, but only some of the things you describe are worse. Distracted driving is objectively measured to be worse, there are some indications speeding is worse because modern cars are higher off the ground reducing the perception of speed and sound insulated (strange given that only people outside cars are blamed for sound insulation).

But stuff like stop signs? I've never seen any evidence that has gotten worse.